Page 94 of Return Ticket

“James and I were walking home when we found Teddy Roe on the road. I called an ambulance, but they wouldn’t let me go with him.”

“So how come you’re here?” Ruby asked. “Are you injured?” Her gaze was on the rips in Gabriella’s pants.

“It’s a long story.” She almost didn’t have the energy to explain it all, but she managed to outline the main points.

“So this Tanner could still be waiting for you?” Ruby asked.

Gabriella stared at her. That had not even crossed her mind.

“Come.” Ruby waved a hand, and a taxi pulled up beside them. “I’m going inside with you to check he isn’t still there,” she said.

She peppered Gabriella with questions on the short journey home, and when they pulled up, the taxi driver, who’d introduced himself as Jimmy, and who’d been listening to their conversation with avid attention, switched off the engine. “I’m coming along, ladies. Can’t have too much muscle.”

They got out, and Gabriella stopped. Pointed.

“That’s Tanner’s car.”

The black Mercedes was parked a little way down the road.

“All right. Time to get serious.” Jimmy leaned back into his cab and pulled out a tire iron. “Always have one handy. Just in case.” He sent Ruby a wink, and she smiled back.

“I like a man who comes prepared,” she told him.

They climbed the stairs quietly, Gabriella in the middle, with Jimmy in front and Ruby bringing up the rear.

When they reached the landing, she saw her dressing gown was hanging from her door knob, and her toiletries had been put back in their bag and were on the ground in front of her door.

She put her hand in the dressing gown pocket, and found her key. Then she glanced at Jimmy, waited for a nod, and then tried the door.

It was locked.

She sagged with relief. “He can’t be in there. It can’t be locked from the inside without a key.”

She opened it up and pushed the door open, but the interior of her flat was exactly as she’d left it. “He must have not come back after he lost me in the fog,” she said, feeling a little lightheaded with relief. “Jerome must have put my things by my door.”

“And he didn’t come back for his car, either?” Ruby wondered.

“Maybe he was afraid to. He would assume I’d run straight to the police.” Gabriella leaned back against the wall.

“Well, you look dead on your feet, so I’ll get Jimmy to drive me home. Come for dinner tomorrow night, and catch me up on everything.” Ruby handed her her toiletries, and then she and Jimmy withdrew.

Gabriella closed the door, locked it, and walked to her bed.

She’d never felt so happy to be home in her life.

chapterthirty-seven

James could hearthe phone in Hartridge’s office ringing.

He hurried out of his office, hoping it was Hartridge calling with information from Kent, and lifted the receiver. “Hello?”

“DC Hartridge?”

“No, he’s not in. This is DS Archer.” James recognized the voice as the sergeant from downstairs.

“Right. DS Archer, there’s a man tied up and gagged in a car in Notting Hill, found by a bobby this morning on his rounds. The car registration has a flag on it, attached to a case you’re involved in.”

“What type of car?” James suddenly realized he’d forgotten all about Tanner. “Where in Notting Hill?”